November 10, 2026

By Julie Bank, Interim Executive Directory, United Spay Alliance

Last week, 48 State Leaders and partners from across the country gathered in beautiful New England for something we hadn’t done in more than a decade: an in-person retreat dedicated to learning, sharing ideas, strengthening connections, and building a stronger future for the spay/neuter community.

From October 30–November 1, we welcomed our State Leader Network to the Warren Conference Center and Inn in Massachusetts. Surrounded by the beautiful New England landscape, we spent two days immersed in thoughtful conversations, inspiring presentations, and hands-on working sessions with some truly amazing speakers.

And while the setting was beautiful, the energy in the room was even better! There was plenty of delicious vegetarian food, lots of laughter, new friendships, and, most importantly, an incredible amount of learning.

Why This Gathering Mattered

Our State Leaders are the backbone of our referral directory and play an essential role in making spay/neuter services more accessible in communities across the country.

They connect people with resources, build relationships with local organizations, identify gaps in access, and help ensure that pet owners and community members know where to turn for help.

This retreat was an opportunity to invest in the people who make this work happen. Bringing everyone together allowed us to step away from our day-to-day responsibilities, learn from one another, tackle shared challenges, and think creatively about how we can make an even greater impact.

Two Days of Learning, Sharing, and Inspiration

This wasn’t a traditional conference. Instead, our time together was designed to encourage meaningful participation, collaboration, and practical takeaways.

With great speakers and engaging working sessions, we explored important topics facing the spay/neuter community today. We shared experiences from our states, discussed challenges and opportunities, exchanged ideas, and began developing tools and resources that can support our work moving forward.

Some of the greatest value came from simply being together: learning from colleagues who understand the challenges, discovering new approaches, and realizing just how much knowledge and passion exists within this network.

And, of course, there was time to enjoy the beautiful surroundings, share wonderful meals, and strengthen the relationships that make this network so special.

Help Us Grow Our State Leader Network!

One of the most important things we took away from this gathering is how valuable our State Leaders are and how much more we can accomplish as our network continues to grow.

We are still looking for a State Leader in Alaska, Nevada and Hawaii!

So, what exactly does a State Leader do?

A State Leader serves as a local connection and resource for spay/neuter information and access in their state. Responsibilities include:

• Maintaining the referral network: Helping keep our spay/neuter referral directory accurate, current, and useful.
• Building local connections: Developing relationships with clinics, animal welfare organizations, shelters, and other community partners.
• Sharing resources: Connecting individuals and organizations with information about affordable spay/neuter services and available programs.
• Identifying community needs: Helping us understand where access to spay/neuter services is limited and where additional resources are needed.
• Being a voice for spay/neuter: Sharing information, opportunities, and developments that can help strengthen access in their state.

You don’t have to do it all alone! Being a State Leader means being part of a larger national network of passionate people who share information, support one another, and work toward the same goal.

If you are interested in becoming a State Leader, or know someone who might be a great fit, we’d love to hear from you!

Looking Ahead

This retreat reminded us of what is possible when passionate, knowledgeable people come together with a shared purpose.

Forty-eight people, great speakers, two days of learning, countless ideas, and new connections all focused on making spay/neuter access stronger across the country.

We are excited to take what we learned  and turn those conversations into meaningful tools, resources, and action.

A huge thank-you to everyone who traveled to join us, shared their expertise, asked thoughtful questions, and brought so much enthusiasm to the gathering. We left inspired, energized, and more connected than ever.

Together, we’re building a stronger network and a brighter future for spay/neuter access nationwide!